Quarterly News & Events December 2022
San Mateo and San Francisco Counties
With Gratitude and Thanks
In reflecting on our UCCE program work and impact in 2022 we have much to be grateful for. This year we reached thousands of people through our youth and adult education programs offering researched-based information on home horticulture, home food preservation & food safety, positive youth development, and nutrition knowledge. We owe our success and thanks to our incredible volunteers, partners, donors and supporters, the guidance of our academic advisors and university, and of course the communities we are privileged to serve.

Wishing you a peaceful holiday season with hopefulness for the coming year!
Our Partners and Supporters
PROGRAM HAPPENINGS
‌
As 2022 winds down, we would like to thank all the wonderful people who have supported Elkus Ranch; the students, teachers, volunteers, donors, camp attendees, special event attendees, and of course our wonderful staff, including our friendly ranch animals.
We had a busy Fall with many school groups visiting. A big draw in October is our pumpkin patch where students are able to pick a small pumpkin to take home. Our animals are always thrilled to get the leftovers for a little snack!
Quick Pickling at the Alemany Farm Harvest Festival
On October 22, our Master Food Preservers participated in the Harvest Festival at Alemany Farm, hosted by the Friends of Alemany Farm and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. Hundreds of people came out to celebrate and we were able to teach a quick pickled carrot recipe to over 150 people! Participants who visited our table learned about the quick pickling process and created their own jar of pickled carrots to take home. Thank you to our MFP volunteers: Candace Bowers, Nancy Murphy, Michele Maia, and Jen Dobrowolski for volunteering their time for this wonderful community event and thank you to San Francisco Rec and Park for supplying the materials and ingredients for the pickled carrots!... Quick Pickled Carrots Recipe.

Nutrition
CFHL Conducts "CATCH Kids Club" Training at the YMCA
On November 10th and 17th, CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Community Education Specialists Marisela Ceron, Elaine Silver, and Julie Lefko in partnership with Angie Cavazos, Community Program Specialist with the San Mateo County Public Health Department, had the pleasure of training 15 after school leaders and directors from the Sequoia YMCA in Redwood City on CATCH Kids Club Activity Box K-5 and CATCH Kids Club Healthy Habits & Nutrition Grades K-5. The YMCA staff lead after school programming at Adelante Selby, Rocketship, KIPP Excelencia and KIPP Valiant schools. READ MORE...

Here are some Holiday Eating tips from www.ChooseMyPlate.gov to make small changes on the road to healthier holiday eating!

4-H Day of Service and Awards Ceremony
On November 13, 2022, 4-H’ers from across San Mateo/San Francisco Counties came together for a Day of Service. 4-H’ers and members of the community participated in several service projects, making bags of toiletries for homeless shelters, bookmarks for seniors, cat toys for animal shelters and so much more.
Congratulations to 4-H volunteers and award winners! 4-H would not exist without a team of dedicated volunteers. The annual Award Ceremony on November 28, 2022, recognized twenty-one such wonderful volunteers, contributing from 5 years of volunteer service all the way to 40 years of service!
Twenty-five 4-H youth earned awards in the County Record Book competition and Star Rankings. EVENT PHOTOS...


Gardening to Mitigate Climate Change
The UC Master Gardeners are looking to the future. Their recent member education event on Oct. 15th in San Francisco focused on climate change issues. Entitled ‘Gardening to Mitigate Climate Change’ this climate conversation included guest panelists Janet Hartin, UCCE Environmental Horticulture Advisor and Frank Niccoli, Director of Horticulture at Foothill College, and masterfully moderated by Nick Landolfi, MG Volunteer. The recorded presentation is available on our YouTube channel via the following link: Gardening to Mitigate Climate Change Part I
Outcomes of this educational experience were the formation of a Master Gardener Climate Study Group to develop public workshops and materials on the subject.
UPCOMING EVENTS...





  • Houseplant Basics | Feb. 5th, 2023 - 1pm-2:30pm | at the SF Mission Bay Branch Library





Located on-site at UC Elkus Ranch
1500 Purisima Creek Road
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
650-726-9059
Master Gardener Helpline:
Open for in-person, walk-in visits per below. See our website for more details or submit any questions via the following:

  • Monday: 10am-1pm | HMB
  • Tuesday: 10:30am-1:30pm | SF
  • Thursday: 1pm-4pm | RWC
ANR NONDISCRIMINATION AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY STATEMENT FOR UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
It is the policy of the University of California (UC) and the UC Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities (Complete nondiscrimination policy statement can be found at http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/215244.pdf )
Inquiries regarding ANR’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to UCANR, Affirmative Action Compliance & Title IX Officer, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2801 Second Street, Davis, CA 95618,(530) 750-1397.